IT’S COME TO THIS: Japan’s Shinzo Abe rebukes MPs after Obama ‘slave’ remark.

Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe issued a stern rebuke after one of his lawmakers sparked a row by saying US President Barack Obama has “the blood of slaves”.

Kazuya Maruyama from Mr Abe’s ruling party made the remark on Wednesday during a parliamentary session.

Mr Abe said that as elected representatives of the people MPs should have “self-discipline”.

Mr Obama is the son of a white mother and a black Kenyan father who went to the US as a student.

Mr Maruyama made the comment while discussing the evolution of the US into a world superpower.

“Now in the United States, a black man serves as president. With the blood of black people. This means slaves, to be clear.”

He added later: “It was unthinkable at the founding of the country that a black man, a slave could become president. That’s how dynamically America has evolved.”

Technically, of course, this is false: Obama isn’t descended from former American slaves at all. But Maruyama can be forgiven for getting that wrong, given this Black History Month speech by Obama:

President Obama held a reception celebrating Black History Month at the White House on Thursday.

In his remarks, he emphasized the influence of African-American culture on the nation.

“From our earliest days black history has been American history,” he said. “We’re the slaves that carry the stone to build this White House. The soldiers who fought for our nation’s independence, who fought to hold this union together. Who fought for freedom of others around the world. We’re the scientists and inventors who helped unleash American innovation.”

“We’re the slaves.” Well, for certain values of the word “we.”